Fletcher Henderson - biographical sketch

     Henderson, Jr., Fletcher, Hamilton, aka "Smack" (1897-1952)  was 
born in Cuthbert Georgia, on Dec. 18, 1897 to Fletcher Hamilton 
Henderson, Sr. and Ozie Lena Chapman, who became his first piano 
teacher. He married Leora Meoux in Dec.1924. (no children?) He died in 
New York City on Dec. 28, 1952. His education included a BA degree 
in chemistry and mathematics from Atlanta University in 1920. 
Henderson is best known as an arranger, bandleader, and pianist. In
1920 he went to New York where he became pianist, song-demonstrator
for the publishing firm of Pace & Handy. In 1921, Henderson became 
musical director of Pace Phonograph Corp.'s Black Swan label, acting 
both as producer and house pianist. He led his first big band at the Culb 
Alabam starting in January,1924, and then took up an extended residency
at New York's Roseland Ballroom. They also toured extensively. In 1928, 
he was Injured in an automobile accident. Until his stroke in December,
1950, he was primarily the leader of his own bands. However, from June, 
1939 until the end of1940 and again in 1947, he was with Benny 
Goodman and in 1948-49, he accompanied Ethel Waters. The Henderson 
archive is located at Tulane University, New Orleans, La.

    Fletcher Henderson, Jr.'s band always functioned as a dance
orchestra.  He was a regular at the Roseland Ballroom in New York,
and later at Connie's Inn in Harlem and at the Grand Terrace in
Chicago.  Out of his total longevity as a leader, he was considered
preeminent by his contemporaries during the period 1924-1932, and
again starting in 1936.  He had the pick of the best musicians.  By 
1932, only the intense loyalty of his men kept the band together in 
spite of layoffs and lax discipline.  Fletcher's lackadaisical personality 
and disinclination to stand up to extortions of his agents and promoters 
more than once caused the deterioration of a band which looked great on 
paper but often played poorly in public.

     As an arranger, Fletcher left his most lasting mark, the one
which touched the greatest number of listeners and exerted the
greatest influence on his peers.  From the start of his arranging
career (about1931) until the emergence of Sy Olvier and Eddie
Sauter (about 1938-40) Fletcher's was the dominant arranging 
style and generated the years of classic swing,1934-40.

EJ - 4/95